}}{{TOCnestright}}'''Joe Straus''' is a [[Republican]] member of the [[Texas House of Representatives]], representing District 121 since winning a special election in February 2005. He is the current [[Speaker of the House]].

}}{{TOCnestright}}'''Joe Straus''' is a [[Republican]] member of the [[Texas House of Representatives]], representing District 121 since winning a special election in February 2005. He is the current [[Speaker of the House]].

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==Issues==

==Issues==

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Straus did not provide answers to the 2008 Political Courage Test. The test provides voters with how a candidate would vote on the issues if elected.<Ref>[http://votesmart.org/npat.php?can_id=49917 Project Vote Smart - Rep. Straus ''Issue Positions'']</ref>

*Excerpt:"At a time when the most divisive voices seem to dominate politics, Joe Straus sets a different, respectful tone. He works to bring people together and get things done. He’s a principled, effective leader who gets results, and we can all be proud to have him representing us."

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'''Fiscal Conservative

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*Excerpt:"Joe Straus is a strong fiscal conservative who most recently led the Texas House of Representatives to balance the State budget by cutting more than $14 billion in spending instead of raising taxes. He’s one of the few Legislators ever to lead efforts to abolish a tax, saving taxpayers roughly $200 million a year thanks to his passage of legislation that abolished the Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund tax once it had served its purpose."

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'''Education First

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*Excerpt:"At a time when other areas of the budget were getting fewer dollars, Joe made public schools a top priority. Although legislators were not able to fully fund the existing formulas for enrollment growth, they did provide additional funds to our public schools at a time when many other areas lost dollars."

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'''Jobs & Economy

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*Excerpt:"Joe Straus is a champion of policies that encourage job creation and economic growth. He knows that it’s the small business owners, entrepreneurs and private sector that create jobs – not government – so he works to keep the tax burden low and state laws and regulations fair and reasonable. He’s focused on improving statewide economic development efforts and attracting more high-paying manufacturing jobs to Texas."

Straus has worked as Deputy Director of Business Liaison and Assistant to the Commissioner of Customs for the United States Department of Commerce.

He is a member of the Cancer Therapy and Research Center Advisory Board, San Antonio Zoological Society Board of Directors, Southwest School of Art and Craft Advisory Board, South Texas Blood & Tissue Center Advisory Board, Texas Nature Conservancy Board of Directors, Winston School Board of Directors, and member of National Financial Partners.[1]

Issues

Campaign themes

Excerpt:"At a time when the most divisive voices seem to dominate politics, Joe Straus sets a different, respectful tone. He works to bring people together and get things done. He’s a principled, effective leader who gets results, and we can all be proud to have him representing us."

Fiscal Conservative

Excerpt:"Joe Straus is a strong fiscal conservative who most recently led the Texas House of Representatives to balance the State budget by cutting more than $14 billion in spending instead of raising taxes. He’s one of the few Legislators ever to lead efforts to abolish a tax, saving taxpayers roughly $200 million a year thanks to his passage of legislation that abolished the Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund tax once it had served its purpose."

Education First

Excerpt:"At a time when other areas of the budget were getting fewer dollars, Joe made public schools a top priority. Although legislators were not able to fully fund the existing formulas for enrollment growth, they did provide additional funds to our public schools at a time when many other areas lost dollars."

Jobs & Economy

Excerpt:"Joe Straus is a champion of policies that encourage job creation and economic growth. He knows that it’s the small business owners, entrepreneurs and private sector that create jobs – not government – so he works to keep the tax burden low and state laws and regulations fair and reasonable. He’s focused on improving statewide economic development efforts and attracting more high-paying manufacturing jobs to Texas."

Sponsored legislation

81st Legislature (2009-2010)

HB 122 - Relating to the use of certain court costs in a criminal case for municipal programs enhancing public safety and security.

2010

Straus won re-election in District 121. He was unopposed in the March 2 Republican primary and defeated Libertarian Barry Allison in the November 2 general election.[6]

Texas House of Representatives, District 121 2010 General election results

Candidates

Votes

Percent

Joe Straus (R)

32,713

100%

2008

On November 4, 2008, Straus won re-election to the Texas House of Representatives from the 121st District, receiving 44,472 votes ahead of Libertarian Arthur Thomas IV (11,380).[7] He raised $378,593 for his campaign.[8]

Texas House of Representatives, District 121

Candidates

Votes

Percent

Joe Straus (R)

44,472

79.62%

Arthur M. Thomas, IV

11,380

20.37%

Campaign donors

2010

In 2010, Straus received $5,265,357 in campaign donations. The top contributors are listed below.[9]

Texas House of Representatives 2010 election - Campaign Contributions

Top contributors to Joe Straus's campaign in 2010

AT&T

$95,000

Perry, Bob J

$77,500

Texas Association Of Realtors

$75,000

Pitcock Jr, James Douglass

$50,000

Border Health

$50,000

Total Raised in 2010

$5,265,357

2008

Straus raised $378,593 in 2008. His top 5 campaign contributors are listed below.[10]

Contributor

2008 total

Charles C Butt

$15,000

AIM Investment Services

$13,896

AT&T

$12,000

Frost National Bank

$9,915

Valero Energy

$7,500

Legislative sessions

82nd (2011-2012)

2011 speaker race

Straus was elected Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives for a second term at the start of the 82nd legislative session on January 11, 2010 in a 132-15 vote. The lead up to the speaker vote was a hot and heavily covered political issue in Texas, but finished anticlimactically. Ken Paxton of District 70 and Warren Chisum of District 88 challenged Straus for the speaker seat by calling his conservative principles into question and promising leadership that more closely reflected the conservative Republican majority. While the rhetoric remained high amongst conservative activists and a handful of representatives right until the vote, both Chisum and Paxton dropped out of the race prior to the formal vote after it was overwhelmingly apparent Straus would keep his speaker seat.[11]

A showdown between Republican conservatives and moderates had been brewing since the day Joe Straus grabbed the gavel from Tom Craddick in 2009 in a move that soured conservatives across Texas. Straus had long been accused of being a RINO (Republican In Name Only). This perception amongst many Texas conservatives was at the heart of the tensions in the 2011 Speaker race. As evidence for their case Straus' opponents pointed to the fact the he became Speaker with just 11 moderate Republican votes and 65 Democrats.[12] Opponents also placed blame with Straus for the failure of pet conservative legislation during his first term as Speaker, such as voter identification and requiring women to view a sonogram before receiving an abortion.[13]

In response to these claims Straus pointed out that the makeup of the House was much different in 2009 when Republicans held only a slight 76-74 majority over Democrats. Straus, and his supporters contended that such across the aisle cooperation was required to effectively lead in the political environment of the time. Straus maintained that his commitment to conservative principles was unwavering. Supporters pointed to his work with conservative groups and donations to conservative causes in response to the repeated RINO allegations.[14]